Made in MetroWest: Products with local flavor

There are actually a lot of products that could be stamped “Made in MetroWest,” including smaller brands that are gaining name recognition, from Zoll Cellars wine and Upton Tea to Red Barn coffee. Bonnie Biocchi, president/CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce in Framingham, said it’s a source of local...

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 22, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 22, 2012 at 10:04 PM

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 22, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 22, 2012 at 10:04 PM

» Social News

The history of Ken’s famous salad dressing dates back to 1941, when a new steakhouse in Framingham came up with a recipe worth bottling.

In a factory in Framingham, Ian’s Natural Foods makes “allergy-friendly” food, such as chicken nuggets, fish sticks, French bread pizza, “Alphatots,” cookie buttons and panko breadcrumbs, sold in grocery stores all over North America.

Company CEO Chuck Marble said it’s a growing market, since 1 out of 12 children have food allergies, and diagnoses such as celiac disease are now common for adults, too.

“We feel we’re pioneering this allergy-friendly category,” he said.

There are actually a lot of products that could be stamped “Made in MetroWest,” including smaller brands that are gaining name recognition, from Zoll Cellars wine and Upton Tea to Red Barn coffee.

Bonnie Biocchi, president/CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce in Framingham, said it’s a source of local pride that goods are made here and sold everywhere.

“It makes you feel good about where you live,” Biocchi said, “where you work, where you do business.”

Business took off for Red Barn Coffee Roasters after a humble start in Hopkinton in 1997.

“We started roasting coffee in our red barn in our backyard — that’s where it all started,” said Lisa Verrochi, who teamed with her husband, Mark.

They now roast beans in Upton, and sell their coffee by the cup and the pound — in their own cafes and via wholesale.

Red Barn Coffee is sold at Colella’s, Angel’s Cafe and at Price Chopper in Hopkinton, Wegmans in Northborough and Bolton Orchards.

“People love it and we do really have a following,” Verrochi said. “We don’t even have a salesperson but our phone rings all the time.”

Frank Zoll grows grapes in Shrewsbury, where he has converted his home into a winery. He makes about 500 cases a year, also using grapes that are grown all over New England.

Labeled Zoll Cellars, his wine is sold in liquor stores in Marlborough, Hopedale, Framingham and elsewhere in the state. He also takes it to farmers markets.

“I want to try to build up a local economy around it, but I do direct ship to consumers in New York by online sales and I will be expanding that to about 10 other states this fall,” Zoll said.

Page 2 of 3 - Zoll recalled a buzz when he introduced his product at the Newport Wine Festival.

“A lot of people leave stumped that we’re making the quality of wine that we are in (this) area,” he said.

In Holliston, Upton Tea Imports is doing a brisk direct mail business to tea drinkers around the country.

“It’s definitely sort of a MetroWest startup,” said owner Tom Eck, who founded the company in Upton in 1989. He now has 18 employees.

“We’re probably one of the largest tea mail order companies in the United States that specializes in loose tea,” said Eck, who shares an industrial building on Jeffrey Avenue with Holliston Pediatric. “You can pretty much tell that tea is becoming a very popular item whereas 20-something years ago it was kind of a poor cousin to coffee.”

Jack’s Abby Brewing in Framingham just celebrated its first anniversary. Its craft beers are on tap and sold at a growing number of New England bars, restaurants and package stores.

Gone is the General Motors plant in Framingham and Frye Boot factory in Marlborough.

“Rockport Shoe used to be manufactured here because Marlborough was the center for the Frye boots and shoe industry, but no longer,” said Susanne Morreale-Leeber, president/CEO of the Greater Marlborough Chamber of Commerce. “Things have evolved.”

Franklin has been home to Garelick Farms since 1931. Through a spokeswoman, the company declined to be part of this story.

“They’ve been a great community partner in Franklin for decades,” Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said. “They sponsor or help support lots of events, obviously they have a great product, employ lots of folks. I’d take 10 more of them if I could.”

Ian’s Natural Foods got its start in Revere in 2001. The company moved to a larger facility in Framingham in 2010.

The company, now with just under 40 employees, recently merged with seafood company Blue Horizon Wild under a new umbrella called Elevation Brands. And it’s poised for continued success.

“I think that the growth of the company really sort of says it all,” Biocchi said.

Other locally manufactured products include 3- and 5-gallon jugs of Poland Spring water, bottled in Framingham’s Tech Park, and the Bose Ride System, made by neighboring Bose, which has been headquartered in Framingham since its first building opened in 1972. The ride system, which replaces a traditional truck seat, reduces vibration for drivers of big rigs. Besides Framingham, Bose has plants in South Carolina, Mexico and Ireland, where it manufactures more well-known products, such as Bose radios.

While headquartered in Marlborough, Ken’s has opened two other manufacturing facilities: in Las Vegas and just outside Atlanta.

Page 3 of 3 - The roughly 500 employees in Marlborough make Ken’s dressing that ships out to stores from Maine to Maryland and west to Michigan, Cahalane said.

“It makes me proud that one of our chamber member’s products are available throughout the stores — knowing that they’re locally made,” Morreale-Leeber said. “And a lot of people are more likely to buy products that are made locally.”

(Danielle Ameden can be reached at 508-626-4416 or dameden@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleAmeden.)